Dana White Slams Boxing Promoters or Avoiding Major Fights

Dana White slammed boxing for not making the big fights before the Saudis got involved.
Under Turki Alalshikh’s involvement, boxing fans have been treated to big events. The Saudis made the first Undisputed Heavyweight Championship fight since 1999 with Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk. It was a captivating fight, with Fury almost getting knocked out before winning a split decision.
They will also rematch on December 21, with the winner potentially fighting for undisputed again, facing either Anthony Joshua or Daniel Dubois. The Saudi investment has seen promoters and networks put their differences aside to make big events. Fighters are also well compensated, earning enough to secure their financial future and more. While that may be the case, White questioned why it took so long.
White Reacts
“When you look at what Turki Alalshikh has done, it took Saudi Arabian money to make fights you never thought would be made. This is the first guy that is reinvesting back into the sport of boxing. Everybody else takes. It’s like a going-out-of-business sale every time they put on an event. ‘Let’s grab as much money as we can and run.’ He’s actually reinvesting in the sport, and I find it interesting,” White said
This could have big consequences moving forward. Reports indicate that the Kingdom wants to make a Saudi Boxing League. This would be an alternative to the four main governing bodies: WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF. There were suggestions that the Saudis could buy a small stake in Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions in a $4-5 billion deal. That has the advantage of centralizing things under one body. It means the best fighters cannot not avoid each other. Fighters would also know what they earn and who they will face.
This looming project also forces promoters to come together if they want to avoid having one body. The best promotional companies would then survive, rooting out the weaker ones, which only benefit fans in seeing the best events. However, the disadvantage is that the best fighters may see their independence curtailed. Fighters such as Canelo Alvarez can charge fans $89.99, such as the Edgar Berlanga one, for their fights.
The Future
Despite criticism, a hardcore section of his fans will still pay for that. That would earn Alvarez more than what he may command under one central body. This is what the UFC has been criticized for. Although they make the big fights, there are complaints those fighters don’t make enough compared to what the UFC brings in. While the fighters may earn less, the rest of the money could be reinvested back in the sport. Turki Alalshikh does have plans for a league moving forward.
“We have a plan for the future to have something like a league. We don’t discuss about the belts until now. But in my opinion around 68 world champions is a crazy number,” Turki Alalshikh stated
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